CORONATION PLANS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 41, 4 March 1937, Page 6

CORONATION PLANS

Proposals for Celebrations in Hastings NO MONEY-MAKING Nothing elaborate in the way of celebrations for the coronation or the horough jubilee is to he attempted in Hastings. This decision was arrived at last evening when a conference between the executive of the Hastings and District Progress League and the Hastings Borough Council was held, A general programme was decided upon, hut the joint celebrations will be> held practicaHly anly for two days. The Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison, presided and expressed the opinion that the time was inopportune for the conduct of a programme aimed at raising funds for civie or other matters, particularly as the reeent Bathing Belle competition had been responisible for a big drain on the people 's resources. He pointed out that if the celebrations were to be conducted on a big scale, it would be necessary to incur considerable expense, and ha was of the opinion that at the present time such a proposal was not advisable. He drew attention to the fact that May was one of the wettest months of the year, and it was alinost impossible to stage outdoor funetions with any real certainty of success. Endorsing this view, Mr A. I. Rainbow, president of the League, said he thought in regard to the coronation ceremonies and celebrations that the objective should be to make them of such a character as to leave an impression of the occasion in the minds of the children. Mr A. E. Redgrave supportcd the contentions of the other speakers, A tentativa programme was presented by Mr G. E. G. Rogers, secretary of the League, for discussion, and it was agreed that committees bo appointed to deal with the various matters. The Mayor, Mr Rainbow, Mr Rogers and the Town Clerk, Mr Noel C. Harding, wera appointed a ispecial committee to make the arrangements for the formation of the various committees reqnired. The co-operation of the retailers and shop-keepers is to be sought with a view to having soine co-ordination and general plan in the decoration of the main street and the illumination displays. In this regard the Hawke's Bay Electric Power Board advised that it would allow extra units of power at considerably reduced charges for special coronation illumination displays, and also that there "were a number of eoloured lights available for the council to use in the deeorative scheme to be adopted in connection with street lighting. The hope was expressed that the retailers would endeavour to conduct an Empirc Trade Week in eonjnnction with the celebrations. Regarding pubiie funetions, it was decided that on Wednesday, May 12, tLcre would be the coronation ceremony and serviee in the morning with a mareh-past by the school children and the various local units. In this regard it is expected that the Government will be outlining a programme for the coronation ceremony and serviee. In the afternoon there will be the special Hawke's Bay Jockey Glub's meeting at the Hastings racecourse and a children 's fancy dress party in the Drill Hall. The evening function will be a special coronation ball iu the Assemblv Hall. On Thursday the Borough Council is to arrange for a jubilee luucheon, and in the afternoon the Rugby TJnion i? to be asked to stage a representative Rugby football match, or some other attraction. It was considered that the &fcaging of a sports meeting and other outdoor attraetions involved too great a risk, though it was hoped that the retailers and tradespeople would endeavour to promote a proeession The Hastings Opeiatie" Society Is to be appvoached Y;o stage a performanec on the Tuesday night preceding Coronation Day, and again on the Thursday and Eriday nights followinjp.